Electromechanical leg exercising apparatus

ABSTRACT

An electromechanical leg exercising apparatus is used as a therapeutic aid for a paraplegic patient. The exercising apparatus comprises a three sectional telescoping frame capable of being detachably mounted to a conventional chair. An electric motor having a rheostatic control is mounted onto the frame. The electric motor rotates a two pedal assembly by means of a chain driven transmission assembly.

United States Patent 1 1 Duke { 1 ELECTROMECHANICAL LEG EXERCISING APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Cecil 0. Duke, Port Richey, Fla.

[73] Assignee: Lawrence Peska Associates, Inc., New York, N.Y. a part interest 22 Filed: Sept. 3, 1974 21 Appl.No.:502,780

[52] US. Cl 128/25 R [51] Int. Cl. A6111 1/02 [58] Field of Search 128/25 R, 25 B; 272/73 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,261,355 11/1941 Flynn 128/25 R 51 Oct. 14,1975

2,668,709 2/1954 Boyko 272/73 X 2,735,422 2/1956 Jones 128/25 R 3,730,174 5/1973 Madison 128/25 R Primary Examinerl..awrence W. Trapp Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Richard E. Nanfeldt ABSTRACT An electromechanical leg exercising apparatus is used as a therapeutic aid for a paraplegic patient. The exercising apparatus comprises a three sectional telescoping frame capable of being detachably mounted to a conventional chair. An electric motor having a rheostatic control is mounted onto the frame. The electric motor rotates a two pedal assembly by means of a chain driven transmission assembly.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct.14, 1975 ELECTROMECHANICAL LEG EXERCISING APPARATUS SUMMARY or THE INVENTION My invention relates to a unique and novel apparatus 5 for providing the therapeutic exercise to a paraplegic patient.

It is known from U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,081,645; 3,212,776; 3,503,387; 3,713,438; and 3,730,174 that leg exercises for paraplegic patients. have been employed but these aforementioned patents are of complicated design, of high manufacturing cost and do not provide a means of adjustment for the leg length of the patient. 1

Accordingly, an object of my invention is to provide a leg exerciser for paraplegic patients.

A further object of my invention is to provide a detachable means of attachment of the leg exercising apparatus to a conventional chair.

Another object of my invention is to provide a means of adjustment for various leg lengths of different patients.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a means of controlling the rate of vertical rotation of the pedals.

An advantage of my invention over the previously cited patents is that it provides a detachable means of the frame to a conventional chair.

A second advantage of my invention is that it provides a means of adjustment for various leg lengths of different patients.

A further object of my invention is that it provides an apparatus of uncomplicated design and relatively low manufacturing cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The objects and features of the invention may be understood with reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side elevational view of the leg exercising apparatus; and

FIG. 2 illustrates a front elevation view of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows an electromechanical leg exercising apparatus used as a therapeutic aid for a paraplegic patient. The tubular hollow frame of apparatus 10 comprises a three sectional telescoping elongated member 11, wherein a clamping member 12 is affixed to a first free end 13 ofa first end section 14 of member 11. A second end section 15 is formed from a straight elongated portion 16 with a downward extending arm, 17 wherein a continuous curved transition exist between portion 16 and arm 17. The leg 18 of an inverted T shaped member 19 telescopically communicates with a second free end 20 of arm 17 allowing vertical height adjustment of frame 1 l. The clamping member 12 affixes to a front rung 21 of a conventional chair 22, while the base 23 of member 19 engages the floor, wherein base 23 is parallel to the front edge 24 of the chair 22. The middle section 25 of member 11 telescopically joins the first end section 14 to the second end section 15. By telescopic adjustment ofsections l4, 15, 25 the frame 11 can be elongated or contracted to accommodate various lengthlegs of patients. A gear box 26, as shown in FIG. 2, is affixed to the underside 27 of section 25 by means of clamping bracket 28. An S shaped shaft 29 is contained in gear 26 with foot pedals 30 having axis of rotation attached to the outermost projections 31 of shaft 29. Adjustable straps 43 as shown in FIG. 2 are affixed to each foot 15 tric motor 42 having an internal clutch assembly is mounted onto plate 34. A motor sprocket gear 36 of a substantially smaller diamteritham pedal sprocket gear 32 is mounted onto a horizontal drive shaft 37 of electric motor 42. A closed loop chain 38 functions a transmission means between the pedal sprocket gear 32 and the motor sprocket gear 36. A control panel 39 having a rheostatic control 40 communicates with the electric motor 42 by means ofa wire 41 passing through hollow tubular frame 11. The electric motor 42 through the transmission means causes the pedals 30 to rotate in a vertical plane. This vertical plane of rotation of the pedals 30 provides therapeutic exercise to the legs of a paraplegic patient sitting in the chair 22.

30 Hence obvious changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described herein, such modifications being within the spirit and scope of the invention claimed, it is indicated that all matter contained herein is intended as an illustrative and not as 5 limiting in scope.

40 used as a theurapeutic aid for a paraplegic patient,

which comprises:

a. a hollow tubular frame formed from three sectional telescoping members; b. a detachable means for attachment of said hollow 45 tubular frame to a chair;

0. an electrical motor having an internal clutch assembly and a horizontal drive shaft;

d. a means of joining said electric motor to said hollow tubular frame;

e. a motor sprocket gear secured to said horizontal drive shaft;

f. a gear box having an S shaped shaft;

g. a pair of foot pedals pivotally affixed to the ends of said S shaped shaft;

h. a means of mounting said gear box to said hollow tubular frame;

i. a pedal sprocket gear affixed rectilinearly to a center portion of said S shaped shaft; and

j. a transmission means between said motor sprocket gear and said pedal sprocket gear.

2. An electromechanical leg exercising apparatus as recited in claim I, wherein three sectional telescoping member comprises:

a. a first end section having a clamping member affixed to a first free end of said first end section;

b. a second end section having a straight elongated portion and a downward extending arm;

c. a middle section joining telescopically said first end section to said straight elongated portion of said second end section; and

d. an inverted T shaped member telescopically communicating with a second free end of said downward extending arm;

e. a base of said T shaped member engages the floor;

and

f. said clamping member engages a front rung of said chair.

3. An electromechanical leg exercising apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said means of joining said electric motor to said hollow tubular frame comprises:

a. a horizontal mounting plate affixed to an inside longitudinal sidewall of said downward extending arm; and

b. said electric motor mounted onto said mounting plate.

4. An electromechanical leg exercising apparatus as recited in claim 3, in which each said foot pedal have an adjustable strap.

5. An electromechanical leg exercising apparatus as recited in claim 3, in which said means of mounting said gear box to said hollow tubular frame comprises a clamping bracket joining said gear box to an underside of said middle section of said hollow tubular frame.

6. An electromechanical leg exercising apparatus as recited in claim 5, in which said transmission means between said motor sprocket gear and said pedal sprocket gear comprises a closed looped chain, wherein a diameter of said pedal sprocket gear substantially exceeds a diameter of said motor sprocket gear.

7. An electromechanical leg exercising apparatus used as a therapeutic aid for a paraplegic patient positioned in a chair, which comprises:

a. a hollow tubular frame formed from a plurality of telescoping members, said hollow tubular adapted to join to said chair;

b. an electric motor having an internal clutch assembly and a drive shaft joined to said hollow tubular frame;

c. a gear box having an S shaped shaft joined onto said hollow tubular frame;

d. foot pedals pivotally joined onto said S shaped shaft; and

e. a drive means between said S shaped shaft and said drive shaft of said electric motor. 

1. An electromechanical leg exercising apparatus used as a theurapeutic aid for a paraplegic patient, which comprises: a. a hollow tubular frame formed from three sectional telescoping members; b. a detachable means for attachment of said hollow tubular frame to a chair; c. an electrical motor having an internal clutch assembly and a horizontal drive shaft; d. a means of joining said electric motor to said hollow tubular frame; e. a motor sprocket gear secured to said horizontal drive shaft; f. a gear box having an S shaped shaft; g. a pair of foot pedals pivotally affixed to the ends of said S shaped shaft; h. a means of mounting said gear box to said hollow tubular frame; i. a pedal sprocket gear affixed rectilinearly to a center portion of said S shaped shaft; and j. a transmission means between said motor sprocket gear and said pedal sprocket gear.
 2. An electromechanical leg exercising apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein three sectional telescoping member comprises: a. a first end section having a clamping member affixed to a first free end of said first end section; b. a second end section having a straight elongated portion and a downward extending arm; c. a middle section joining telescopically said first end section to said straight elongated portion of said second end section; and d. an inverted T shaped member telescopically communicating with a second free end of said downward extending arm; e. a base of said T shaped member engages the floor; and f. said clamping member engages a front rung of said chair.
 3. An electromechanical leg exercising apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said means of joining said electric motor to said hollow tubular frame comprises: a. a horizontal mounting plate affixed to an inside longitudinal sidewall of said downward extending arm; and b. said electric motor mounted onto said mounting plate.
 4. An electromechanical leg exercising apparatus as recited in claim 3, in which each said foot pedal have an adjustable strap.
 5. An electromechanical leg exercising apparatus as recited in claim 3, in which said means of mounting said gear box to said hollow tubular frame comprises a clamping bracket joining said Gear box to an underside of said middle section of said hollow tubular frame.
 6. An electromechanical leg exercising apparatus as recited in claim 5, in which said transmission means between said motor sprocket gear and said pedal sprocket gear comprises a closed looped chain, wherein a diameter of said pedal sprocket gear substantially exceeds a diameter of said motor sprocket gear.
 7. An electromechanical leg exercising apparatus used as a therapeutic aid for a paraplegic patient positioned in a chair, which comprises: a. a hollow tubular frame formed from a plurality of telescoping members, said hollow tubular adapted to join to said chair; b. an electric motor having an internal clutch assembly and a drive shaft joined to said hollow tubular frame; c. a gear box having an S shaped shaft joined onto said hollow tubular frame; d. foot pedals pivotally joined onto said S shaped shaft; and e. a drive means between said S shaped shaft and said drive shaft of said electric motor. 